Melting in the Dark

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Melting in the Dark
Studio album by
Steve Wynn
Released1996
StudioFort Apache Studios[1]
GenreRock, alternative rock
LabelZero Hour[2]
ProducerSteve Wynn
Steve Wynn chronology
Fluorescent
(1994) 		Melting in the Dark
(1996) 		Sweetness and Light
(1997)

Melting in the Dark is an album by the American musician Steve Wynn, released in 1996.[3][4] It was recorded with a band consisting of all the members of Come.[5] Wynn supported the album by touring with a backing band that included members of Gutterball, Zuzu's Petals, and Love Tractor.[6]

History[edit]

Shortly before making the record, bassist Sean O'Brien and drummer Arthur Johnson quit Come, making this album's recording sessions the last time the original lineup of Come recorded together.[7][8] Come was more familiar with Wynn's Dream Syndicate work, which in turn influenced the writing and sound of Melting in the Dark.[9][10] The musicians rehearsed for a day before recording for four days.[11][12] "Shelley's Blues, Pt. 2" alludes to Mike Nesmith's "Some of Shelly's Blues".[13]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[14]
Calgary Herald[15]
Chicago Tribune[16]
Los Angeles Times[17]
Orlando Sentinel[18]

Trouser Press wrote: "Although something of a return to the Dream Syndicate’s savage guitar-frenzy, the album is flightier, with dry, laconic vocals, jauntily aggressive tempos and a joyous garage-crud vibe that suggests it was a lot of fun to make."[19] The Chicago Tribune called the album "spare, free-swinging rock studded with sharp hooks."[16] The Orlando Sentinel deemed it "tense but not humorless rock."[18]

Rolling Stone noted that "Come's clamor seems out of place next to Wynn's uninspired retrorock drawl."[20] The Calgary Herald concluded that "Wynn remains an unheralded anti-hero, a rocker who's never been a pretender and shoulda been a contender."[15] The Los Angeles Times determined that "it's at the midway point that Wynn's seething tales of bad love catch fire."[17]

Track listing[edit]

  1. "Why"
  2. "Shelley's Blues, Pt. 2"
  3. "What We Call Love"
  4. "Drizzle"
  5. "Angels"
  6. "Epilogue"
  7. "Silence Is Your Only Friend"
  8. "Stare It Down"
  9. "Smooth"
  10. "For All I Care"
  11. "Way You Punish Me"
  12. "Down"
  13. "Melting in the Dark"

Personnel[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Sullivan, Jim (5 Jan 1996). "Thalia Zedek and Chris Brokaw agree to Come again". Living. The Boston Globe. p. 56.
  2. ^ Thompson, Dave (June 1, 2000). "Alternative Rock". Hal Leonard Corporation – via Google Books.
  3. ^ "Steve Wynn Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  4. ^ "Review". www.ox-fanzine.de.
  5. ^ "Steve Wynn: What I Did After My Band Broke Up". Pitchfork.
  6. ^ Menconi, David (October 4, 1996). "Combination plates". What's Up. The News & Observer. p. 13.
  7. ^ Buckley, Peter (June 1, 2003). "The Rough Guide to Rock". Rough Guides – via Google Books.
  8. ^ "Steve Wynn Melting In The Dark". Steve Wynn.
  9. ^ Daniel, Jeff (10 Oct 1996). "ANOTHER NOTCH IN THE WYNN COLUMN". Get Out. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 9.
  10. ^ Lustig, Jay (July 12, 1996). "Dreaming and Come-ing again". Ticket. The Star-Ledger. p. 27.
  11. ^ Weitz, Matt (September 19, 1996). "Out There". Music. Dallas Observer.
  12. ^ Haymes, Greg (November 7, 1996). "A WYNNING HAND". Times Union. Albany. p. P4.
  13. ^ Milano, Brett (Nov 1996). "Steve Wynn: Melting in the Dark". Stereo Review. 61 (11): 131.
  14. ^ "Steve Wynn Melting in the Dark Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  15. ^ a b Muretich, James (18 Aug 1996). "New Releases". Calgary Herald. p. E2.
  16. ^ a b Reger, Rick (1 Aug 1996). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 9.
  17. ^ a b Appleford, Steve (23 Oct 1996). "ALBUM REVIEWS". Los Angeles Times. p. F8.
  18. ^ a b Gettelman, Parry (30 Aug 1996). "SUMMER STOCK INCLUDES SOME BLUE CHIPS". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 7.
  19. ^ "Steve Wynn". Trouser Press. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  20. ^ Wiederhorn, Jon (Aug 8, 1996). "Near Life Experience/Melting in the Dark". Rolling Stone (740): 58.
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